The Pinoy IEN

The transition of Canada to NCLEX-RN in 2014 widen opportunities of Canadian RNs all throughout North America. Canada is the third country behind India and the Philippines of which American hospitals hire RNs to address the RN shortage in the States (Hall, 2009). It has been noted that US recruiters prefer RNs who hold a baccalaureate degree, the minimum education requirement to practise as RN in Canada (except Québec).  Read the full article conducted by the University of Toronto Lawrence Bloomber School of Nursing here . Unlicensed Internationally-Educated RNs living in Canada may have to submit a licensure by examination application in the States. This QRG applies to Canadian-licensed RNs/Canadian RNs. So how will those Canadian-licensed RNs reciprocate their licenses in the States? Here are useful steps to file for reciprocity in the States: Pre-requisites: Must have passed the NCLEX-RN Must hold an active Canadian RN license within Canada Québec RNs m...

The Agreement on Internal Trade Chapter 7 lawfully allows Canadian-licensed nurses to practice nursing across Canada including Québec and the Territories. To be able to practice nursing in a province, the nurse must initially hold a full , unrestricted nursing license not temporary or provisional licenses. Like in the States, you can hold multiple nursing licenses in Canada as well! Yes. With a price. To end the rumors of not being able to practise anywhere in Canada, here are 5 helpful tips to process license reciprocity across Canada: (1) Read the Out-of-Province Reciprocity requirements of the province where you wish to move or practice Learning the reciprocity processes would help you formulate a game plan prior to moving to the province or applying for nursing jobs in that province. This information is available in the College website. Be reminded that there are separate forms for Out of Province or Canadian-licensed Nurse Applicants. (2) Practise the professio...

Some Internationally-Educated Nurses are asked to meet the nursing education requirement for licensure or to be eligible to sit the NCLEX-RN. The Colleges/Associations of RNs may require IENs to complete a Bridge to Canadian RN Program or RN Bridging course(s) in a College/Association-recognized school. Going through the RN Bridging is an investment. Investment requires funding. Here are 4 helpful tips to fund your RN bridging program: (1) Save The most conservative yet practical way of funding your RN bridging is saving up ahead of time. Applicants who are willing to save must have information on the length and the cost of their RN Bridging Programs by contacting the accredited schools that offer it. 3 hurtful quotes on saving: Stop buying things you don't need to impress people you don't even like! — Suze Orman Money looks better in the bank than on your feet. — Sophia Amoruso Beware of little expenses, a small leak sinks a great ship. — Benjamin Franklin...

Mae Ann is the typical islander: laid-back, chill and autodidact. She used to be an international student in Vancouver. In the heirarchy of foreign borns in Canada, they're the survivalists. They survive how little they have. Learn how this server turned Stroke Rehab RN. Mae Ann: Hi! My name is Mae Ann Isabel Racho Durban, 25 years old and a graduate of Class 2011 at Holy Name University in the City of Tagbilaran, Bohol. I arrived in Canada under a study permit last December 2014 just 2 days before Christmas. I have nursed for 2.5 years. I was rotated in various 30-50-bed capacity hospitals under the RNHEALS program of the Department of Health. With the limited opportunity we had in our beautiful island plus the politics involved in securing a job, I decided to try my luck in Manila. Ang mahal talaga ng cost of living sa Manila te! Indi keribels! Pinoy IEN: Sinabi mo pa! What or who motivated you to study in Canada? Why not somewhere else? Mae Ann: It was during these ...

The Colleges of RNs or LPNs require IENs from countries not found in the exception list to provide valid English test results (not expired) with the required scores or band. In Ontario, the College of Nurses of Ontario has guidelines to prove other evidences of English Language Proficiency. The Registration Committee reserves the right to make a determination on your written request as this will undergo deliberation. Please view the complete criteria by clicking here . This QRG will help IENs determine their eligibility: (1) Do you have an active Ontario (CNO) application? Have you received an NNAS Advisory Report for Ontario? If YES proceed to step 2. If NOT, this QRG does not apply to you. Prove English Proficiency by examination and relay official results to your College. (2) Have you worked as an employed or volunteer Personal Support Worker or Health Care Aide within the last 2 years in Canada? If YES, you are eligible to submit a written request. If NOT...

We have talked with Canadian RNs in the past and in the present about their nursing skills and knowledge assessment experience. We were lucky to be able to gather their insights to come up with these helpful tips to conquer the Objective Structured Clinical Examination or the OSCE. (1) Set your mind Keep in mind that you will be taking an important examination for your nursing career. We recommend to set aside vacation plans to prepare for this. (2) Make a study plan Design a study plan based on your own learning curve.  Know thy self , know thy enemy. A thousand battles, a thousand victories. Sun Tzu (3) Limit only on up to 3 Canadian references Read your Colleges' RN Practice Guidelines and note common health issues in Canada. Provincial RN jurisprudence is also helpful. Learn about vulnerable populations in Canada (e.g. Metis, Inuit, First Nations etc) References on OSCE and Health Assessment are indispensable. YouTube for nursing procedures ...

The Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) is the practical or clinical simulation part of the nursing skills and knowledge assessment administered by a College- or an Association-accredited institution (e.g. Touchstone Institute). The entire exam will be composed of 12 scenarios with patient actors and an examiner. We created a scenario to give you a heads up on what happens in an OSCE. Here's the flow of an OSCE scenario about Pain (click on the images): The examiner MAY ask questions to the candidate to test critical thinking skills. Examiners have a rubric to mark the performance of the candidate based on categories and competencies set by the Colleges or the Associations of Registered Nurses. The following images below are categories, competencies and domains in the context of the given scenario above. Below is the list of domains upon which the examiner will base the candidate's global overall rating and will record comments on strengths...

We call her Chinese Girl for having a Facebook name in Chinese characters. Mirriam Gallego may be inactive or silent at times but for some who didn't know she's one of the pioneering Administrators of the Pinoy IEN group. If you happen to be a group member since the group's inception in 2015, you would definitely encounter her pinned post on the wall. She crisscrossed Canada ever since she moved in 2010 travelling frequently to and from the East to West vice versa. Her story is worth knowing. Mirriam Gallego:   Hi Pinoy IEN! I'm Mirriam Gallego. I graduated from Lorma Colleges in La Union in 2006. I never held a full-time RN position back home as it was hard to get in hospitals. After having my RN license in 2007, I volunteered for 6 months at the regional hospital. Luckily, I landed in Canada under the Live-In Caregiver Program in Ottawa, Ontario in 2010. Clueless talaga ako about how everything works in Canada! Hahaha! Pinoy IEN: Can you share us your ...

Currently, there are 2 provinces that refer IENs to do nursing skills and knowledge assessment at Touchstone Institute: Alberta and Ontario . The Objective Structured Clinical Exam or OSCE is the practical exam portion of the assessment. It is important to know the coverage of this exam to help you prepare and have better determination on how you should proceed with the IEN process. The OSCE will have 12 stations and 13 minutes shall be given to each station to come up with a response or nursing action. You are being assessed for 2 competencies in the OSCE: Knowledge-based Practice Ethical Practice 5 Sub-domains of Knowledge-based Practice: (1) Ongoing Comprehensive Assessment Health and Data Collection Physical Assessment Analysis and Interpretation (2) Collaboration with Clients to Develop Health Care Plans Nursing Care Plan Development (3) Provides Nursing Care with Clients Implementation of Care Prioritization (4) Collaboration Communication Co...

Bonjour tout le monde! Ça va bien? In case you don’t know, Canada has 2 official languages: English and French— l’anglais et le français . French is predominantly spoken in the province of Québec. 80% of its population are Francophones (French-speaking) and 95% speak French as a first or second language. It is also spoken in some parts of Ontario, Newfoundland & Labrador and Acadia ( l’Acadie ): Nova Scotia & New Brunswick, the only officially bilingual province. Canada is proud of her French patrimony as she is to her aboriginial and British as we celebrate and value diversity. Can a Canadian RN practice in Québec? Oui mesdames et messieurs! Reciprocity makes life easy in Canada as it is in the States. The Agreement on Internal Trade of 2009 stipulates that an RN who holds legal authorization to practise nursing in a Canadian province or territory is not ony entitled to a permit issued by the Ordre des Infirmieres et Infirmiers du Québec (OIIQ, Québec Order ...